Ampeg B100R + ext cab?

Hey all,
I was wondering about the possibility of adding the extension cab that Ampeg makes for the B15R for my B100R. See, I've already put a plug on the wires that go to the speaker for the combo, and a female jack on the combo. So I was wondering if it would be possible to split that signal and use both the driver in the combo and the ext. cab. Or maybe just the extension cab since it has a tweeter.

Here's an obstacle....the ext. cab is 8 ohm, the combo driver and amp are 4-ohm. So, I think if it's even possible to do, I would have a 6-ohm set up; can this be done with out killing the amp?

The B100-R has a 4 ohm speaker and a 4 ohm output impedance. If you wired them in series you would have a 12 ohm load (but it might not be much louder). If you wire them in parallel as is normally done, you will probably damage the amp. I imagine that's why they didn't wire an output jack on it. You could use a 12" extension cab instead of the internal 15", but it might not last very long.

It's a good amp, but it doesn't allow for a lot of changes. Fpr the price of an extension cab you could probably buy another B100r used and run them in parallel (splitting your input signal to both amps with a preamp). I've thought of going that route if I needed more volume.

Thanks, ESP. Yeah, it sounds like what I think I want to do is more trouble than it's worth. What I'm after, though, is getting a tweeter in the rig somewhere to add a bit more crispness and for slap. And there doesn't really seem to be any room in the combo for me to wire one in.

If you are looking for a hifi sound (like a tweeter) you may not have the right amp. These are reputed to have good tone and get loud (as mine does) but it's more of a retro "P-Bass & Flatwounds" tone. I'm not sure if a tweeter would get you there because the 15" may not go high enough to reach where the tweeter starts.

Experiments:

You could use piezo's (no crossover needed + cheap) or a tweeter with a crossover, and the amp should handle that OK without loading the amp down. Just wire a jack on the back.

You might consider making a box the width of the amp and a few inches high to hold the tweeter and then just velcro the box to the top of the amp when you want a tweeter sound.

I tried something like this with piezo's, and found all it did for me was give me clear fret noise.

Go to Radio Shack (no tomatoes please), get a non-piezo tweeter with the capacitor on it. The cap is all you need as a crossover. Plug it in and play. I don't know the model numbers on their tweeters, but you can use the horn tweeter or the round plactic one (I don't know if they call it a horn). I've used both and they work fine.

Note: I think the one that looks like a horn has the lowest crossover frequency.

Note 2: Do not bypass the capacitor or the tweeter will fry on the first note.

thanks, guys. I have thought of the idea of building another box to put the tweeter in and set on top of the amp. Even thought about covering it in matching tolex w/matching grill cloth, cool!

I guess I'm not worried much about losing out on some upper mid, or lower high, frequencies, as it stands right now I doubt I'm getting anything higher than 4k. So if I put a crossover in at 3k or so, what's the difference. But I would be adding higher frequencies that I didn't have before.

I just noticed that you're from Kansas City. I used to live in Olathe, KS and worked for Payless Cashways in Kansas City before moving to Texas. I love the KC area.

Try the horn out before building an enclosure. Horns do not require an enclosure to function. If you put a grill cloth in front, be aware that it may absorb some of the highs. The material you use will make a difference.

cool! I'm sure you're aware that Payless is now out of business, all stores. Too bad.

The enclosure I mentioned would be just to have a place to put the tweeter, I understand that cabinet specs are not important with this as they are with a bass box.

I have another thread running around TB somewhere where this has been discussed. I think what I'll end up doing is buying a small guitar amp, and an active crossover, and sending everything higher than 3K to the guitar amp. I realize it won't have a tweeter (isn't a tweeter what I said I was after?!!!!), but the highs should be much better. I presume that frequencies about 3K wouldn't require a whole lot of power to keep up with the combo (?)We'll see...

Originally posted by martininpv I just noticed that you're from Kansas City. I used to live in Olathe, KS and worked for Payless Cashways in Kansas City before moving to Texas. I love the KC area.

Try the horn out before building an enclosure. Horns do not require an enclosure to function. If you put a grill cloth in front, be aware that it may absorb some of the highs. The material you use will make a difference.

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be sure to fill out your Talkbass Profile more, so we know who we're dealing with. It's always fun to see what people are into....

Originally posted by ESP-LTD If you are looking for a hifi sound (like a tweeter) you may not have the right amp. These are reputed to have good tone and get loud (as mine does) but it's more of a retro "P-Bass & Flatwounds" tone. I'm not sure if a tweeter would get you there because the 15" may not go high enough to reach where the tweeter starts.

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I use mine with roundwound-equipped basses like Fender Jazzes, Lakland 55-94, Peavey Cirrus, Zon fretless, etc. and get excellent results though not along the order of an SWR tweeter equipped cab.

Sometimes people tend to forget, we got highs from bass amps for years without tweeters.

Here's an idea, if you must have a tweeter: if you test it with a tweeter and it does give you the sound you want (that's first), why not consider mounting like manufacturers do with coax car speakers? Make some kind of strap that would mount across the opening for the 15 and mount the tweeter on it, in front of the 15.

I use mine with roundwound-equipped basses like Fender Jazzes, Lakland 55-94, Peavey Cirrus, Zon fretless, etc. and get excellent results though not along the order of an SWR tweeter equipped cab.

Sometimes people tend to forget, we got highs from bass amps for years without tweeters.

Here's an idea, if you must have a tweeter: if you test it with a tweeter and it does give you the sound you want (that's first), why not consider mounting like manufacturers do with coax car speakers? Make some kind of strap that would mount across the opening for the 15 and mount the tweeter on it, in front of the 15.

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EXCELLENT idea!! You do it first and then tell me how it went!! No seriously, that's maybe how I'll do it. I am a little worried about blocking some of the sound from the woofer, however.